Best Phone & Service Combo For My Needs?

[snaimon]

Originally Posted by KarenM

I will take a 3 month solo trip in a leased car to France and Italy in late August. I've researched phone options till my eyes glaze over. I'm thinking of using either United-Mobile or callbackworld, but am not sure if they are the same thing. Clarification appreciated.??

Since I don't have a cell phone here at home (CA), I wanted to get a phone which would be good for Europe use, but also can be used back home for occasional 'on-the-road' calls.?? Does anyone know if the Mobal $99 phone would serve this purpose? And, if so, can I buy their phone but use United-Mobile or callbackworld services instead of Mobal's? I'm reluctant to call and ask, for obvious reasons.

Needs of phone and service:

1. calls within France and Italy for res's, info, calling acquaintances--hopefully free or cheap incoming from within those countries

2. Ease and cheapness of calls from U.S. to me in Europe

3. Can receive messages??

4. Ease and cheapness of calls from me in Europe to US

5. Capacity to use phone once home in US

I am leery of doing the eBay thing for various reasons. I would so appreciate input on which phone options and/or services you think would best suit this package of needs.

Thanks,
Karen

Let me know if this is better for a different forum.

If this post would be better served on a different forum, please let me know.

You'll have different opinions.

UM and CBW are different, but you can/should use them together in Europe.

Don't recommend MOBAL

Don't recommend UM for US.

PERSONALLY, see if you have a friend with a spare unlocked GSM phone you can borrow. I really think it is too late to get NEW US service and an unlocked phone if you don't go the Ebay route. You may be able to find a dealer that sells unlocked TRI or QUAD band phones. For US choose quad (ie 850, 900, 1800, 1900).

You could consider 2 local SIM cards, one for France and one for Italy. With the UM you will have FREE incoming in both countries, but people will or may be reluctant to call you -- it will be long distance for them.

Most EU nationals and UM have messaging. UM is expensive, however, to send.

If you want to use the PHONE in the US, forget the UM and EU SIMs. You will probably want to START with a NEW US prepaid plan, either T-MO, Cingular or one of the knock-offs. This will depend on coverage in your area. This for occaisional use, you say. Don't think you need post-pay. YET.

Ease and cheap don't go together when it comes to calls to EU cell phones - usually > 20 cents per minute. Check direct dial (obviously easiest) rates from your carrier or for the folks who might be calling you (the Liechtenstein cell, French cell and Italian cell rates), especially if you only have a cell. If you are staying in one place longer, calling from US to the land line phone in your hotel room or wherever, will be less expensive (< 5 cents per minute).

Some of this and more is in the refernced thread.